EasyJet to double up at Stansted

EasyJet plans to double its Stansted passengers over the next five years, the airport’s new owner said today.

MAG, which also owns Manchester airport, added that the deal underlined its potential to solve the South-East’s aviation capacity crisis.

The budget airline currently flies on 27 routes out of Stansted, carrying 2.8 million passengers a year, but that is expected to rise to six million. A “long-term growth framework”, signed this week, will see further routes added, and easyJet grabbing a larger share of the corporate market with one in five of its customers at Stansted expected to be on business.

The deal was struck just three months after MAG bought the airport for £1.5bn, and pledged to turn round its fortunes.

Stansted managing director Andrew Harrison said: “This deal with easyJet is a statement of intent of how you can grow capacity. There is a balance to be struck between minimal impact of extra flights on the local community but also serving the travelling public’s needs. In the past, too many people have had to drive past Stansted to get to other airports and that is about to change.”

It comes after years of wrangling between the airlines and the airport over its high landing charges, which are now expected to fall for easyJet.

MAG chief executive Charlie Cornish said: “We’re working hard with existing and prospective airlines to drive passenger growth at Stansted, so today’s announcement by easyJet is a positive first step.”